[Fog] Front fog lamp - smashed

[Gweneira]

Started to get worried after reading his thread. Have just been out to check mine, but so far all is well! Neighbours are going to think I'm nuts going out and checking my car every few mins.

[Nick7]

Looking at pics in sticky thread for smahed lamps... it looks a bit interesting - ones that apperently broke by themselves have lots of shattered glass in edges. Whilst one where it does seem stone broke it, has edges of lamp in good state.
Afterall it does seem like there's some issue.. that might be even proven - by how glass broke.

Overall... might be that Honda put too thin glass on lamps, so they can break by small stones or even by tension of heat/cold, etc...?!

[Miggins]

Originally Posted by Nick7

Overall... might be that Honda put too thin glass on lamps, so they can break by small stones or even by tension of heat/cold, etc...?!

A deliberate ploy . . . . . surely not?

[IWANTACIVIC]

Is it worth gettiing some plastic and coving my fogs whennnnnnnnnnnn i get my car so i can tell if its is stone or problem so i can take it back to honda ? Few p is better than £200 if there to blame

[Nick7]

I wouldn't say deliberate.. but surely one huge oversight.

[Pottsy]

I wonder if, when the sun heats the glass, the expansion stresses the edges very unevenly because of the sharp triangular shape. At the sharp pointed corner there always seems to be a concentrated failure, which makes me think this is what's happening.

[karlak]

When you guys try to push/move the lens, does it slightly move in the housing? I checked on one yesterday, and it certainly felt like it was mounted on something like 'rubber' which gave it a bit of movement.

Just curious if some have this 'slight' floaty feel, and others may be solid.


What we really need is an 'insider' in Honda logistics, who would be able to tell us how many replacements have been ordered. If compared say to the VW Golf it was excessive, then we have a material/manufacture/design issue.

[Glass Spider]

mine has the floaty feel to it, and mine are not smashed yet (reaches over to touch a bit of wood)

[TTDegs]

If I could get my backside into gear, yes IWANT, I'd probably get some sticky back plastic on the fog lights

I'll probably remeber that I should have done when I find my first broken one

[WoolyCiv]

Originally Posted by Pottsy

I wonder if, when the sun heats the glass, the expansion stresses the edges very unevenly because of the sharp triangular shape. At the sharp pointed corner there always seems to be a concentrated failure, which makes me think this is what's happening.

Was looking at a ford fiesta (about 7 years old) the other day and noticed that it had fog lights almost like the civics in that they were triangular and looked like originals judging by the water in them! Has anyone heard of fiestas having the same problem ?

Karlak - One of mine seems to float and the other is solid. I have removed both in the past, assembled them exactly the same way and cannot explain why they 'feel' different.

[jayt43]

Walking back home this morning I conducted an hour long fog light survey of other manufacturers cars to see how they compare to the Civic (sad I know and a bit unscientific but here are my findings):

i) the vast majority of OEM fitted fog lights are recessed to a far greater degree than the Civic's, usually set back within a plastic shroud;

ii) most have a significantly smaller surface area than the Civic's. WoolyCiv hit the nail on the head when he mentioned Ford. They seem to be the only other manufacturer with fog lights than come close in size. Both the Mondeo, new shaped Fiesta and old shaped Focus have similar shaped lights (although the Civic's are still bigger I think).

iii) I'd say about 80% have a round, convex appearance which, when combined with their smaller surface area (and recessed position) probably offer more protection than the Civic's.

So I'm wondering if the large surface area, lack of a recess and the fact that they're completely flat is making the Civic's fog lights far more prone to cracking (whether by some temperature effect, or by stones).

Either way, I reckon someone will be offering Lexan polycarbonate protectors for the Civic's fogs before too long (maybe even as an accessory on the Honda Access website). I may even have a go myself!

[HondaHeaven]

The front fogs do seem to be made from the thinest glass Honda could find - having seen the damage and numbers smashing I have made some very discreet fog light protectors - 2mm acrylic cut to the perfect shape and attached via 16mm round velcro tabs in each corner.

Now I can drive up and down the motorway without any worries, cleaning is not a problems also!!

[Jobo]

If it wasn't for this site, I would have wasted money on these foglights. Thanks once again for the information.

[audijohn]

Well hears my update from quite some weeks ago now.
Contact/Feedback from supplying dealers NONE
Contact/Feedback from Honda UK NONE
Contact/Feedback from Honda UK cust/services NONE
Will we buy another Honda NO,NO,NO,NO.NO

[Miggins]

Originally Posted by audijohn

Well hears my update from quite some weeks ago now.
Contact/Feedback from supplying dealers NONE
Contact/Feedback from Honda UK NONE
Contact/Feedback from Honda UK cust/services NONE
Will we buy another Honda NO,NO,NO,NO.NO

I have lodged several queries with Honda UK/Customer Services and have found that for 50% of them I didn't get a reply and have had to chase with a phone call only to receive the usual answer '....speak to your local dealer, do you know who your local dealer is sir?'. Doh!!!!

All for issues which I dont believe the dealer can or should be answering. Maybe this is their policy . . . . if so why have a call centre and message logging system (notice theres no email address to send your complaints or queries to as they "cannot enter into email correspondance" (read WON'T) - if they don't like your query they don't put anything in writing back to you including your own message!!!. You only get a copy of your own message if they reply.

If you have a concern you must call them on the telephone. Maybe they've been trading too long in the USofA if so they should have learnt not to pee the customer off. See attached pic of website.

Come on Honda - customer service isn't that difficult. (just finished a Problem Mgr contract and more than willing to educate)

[Tony Fendall]

I have registered my breakage in the appropriate place.
But mine broke on a country road with no traffic in sight and no acorns or chestnuts falling in the road; just a loud crack followed by a bill for £170.
Have taken it up with Honda UK on the advice of my dealer, who could find no sign of impact.
Tony

[Tony Fendall]

I have just returned from my dealer with the fuel cap mod in my pocket and
instructions to fit (too wet at the moment) and he told me they had a lady customer
with 2 fog lamps broken in the first week.
Honda resolved to customer's satisfaction.
I believe there is an issue here and it's stress related.
I recon Honda will produce new units with more compliant glass adhesive to permit
stress creepage.
So keep logging instances in the appropriate place as the moderators requested.
Regards
Tony

[audijohn]

Well as you guys know we had two fog lamps go inside 4 days!!

UPDATE: whats happen F*** ALL, Have honda UK responded NO
Have Holdens responded NO, How many times have we phoned Honda UK, 8 in the last couple of months , how many supposed returned called have we recieved NONE!!!!
WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK OF THAT FOR SERVICE?.
First and the last Honda for us

[Nice]

Hi Audijohn

Not sure what it is your waiting for us to contact you back with.

I do know our sales dept had to part with some ££ to pay for the replacement of a lamp on one of their demo's....I know..your hearts bleeding. We're in the same boat.
I guess thats just the way it is.

[audijohn]

Originally Posted by Nice

Hi Audijohn

Not sure what it is your waiting for us to contact you back with.

I do know our sales dept had to part with some ££ to pay for the replacement of a lamp on one of their demo's....I know..your hearts bleeding. We're in the same boat.
I guess thats just the way it is.

Mate I must say I phoned and moaned again to Honda UK, they said "we will ring you back this afternoon" and yes you've guessed it THEY DID NOT!!!! whay sort of cust/relations are they running?.